Key-cutting attachment for lathes



y 1952 M. c. COOK 2,604,020

KEY-CUTTING ATTACHMENT FOR LATHES Filed Feb. 25, 1950 2 SHEETS;SHEET 1 I NV EN TOR.

Mar/2'27 6.700%

Patented July 22, 1952 ;-;'UNITED giiSTAT PATENT -,O F E I w 2,604,020 l KEY-CUTTING ATTACHMENT FOR LATHES Martin 0. Cook, Klamath Falls, Oreg.

Application February 23, 1950, Serial No. 145,645

lathes, the moving parts of the attachment being enclosed so as to prevent dirt or other foreign matter from-damaging or contaminating these parts. Y

A further object of the invention "1s to provide' a lathe key-cutting attachment which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages willbe apparent during the course of the following description.

;In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same: 1

' Figure 1 is a front elevational view showing a lathe having'the key-cutting attachment of the present invention attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken r through the key-cutting attachment;

Figure 3 is a top'plan view of .the key-cutting.

attachment, with the cover in open position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on 'the linen-40f Figure'2 5 Figure -5- is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5 -5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an 'elevational view, with parts broken awayand shown in section, showing the connection of the link, rod and cutter bar. Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral l designates. a portion of a conventional lathe which includes a bed II, a head stock I2 and a'belt-and-pulley mechanism l3 which serves to rotate the usual spindle 14. The lathe l0 further includes a threaded shaft. l which extends longitudinally along the front of the bed II, and there is alsoprovided the usual cross-slide l6 which serves to support the compound slide l1. Avertically disposed steady rest l8 projects upwardly from the bed ll, Figure l.

The presentinvention is directed to a keyway cutter assembly which is designated in its entirety-by the numeral [9, and the assembly I9 -.of the:present inVI1fiiQ i adapted to be used "for; cutting l'ceywaysor key seats in an article or workpiece. which .islleld in its proper position by thechuck 2I...... g

' The key-cutting.assembly includes a hollow .housing 22* whichinciude 'b m s t n 23 that has: a; bushing '24 depending from the bottom thereof. The housing 22 further includes a top section or cover 2'5. A suitable rivet or pin 26 serves to hingedly connect one side of the 'cover"25.- tol the bottom section 23 of the housing i 1 Claim. (Cl. 9040) 22, and a bolt-and-nut assembly 21 is used to I 2 l maintain the top section or cover 25 closed on the bottom section 23. Thus, when the key-cutting mechanism is being used, the top section 25 is in the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, but when the user desires to inspect or adjust the parts arranged in the housing 22,-the bolt-andnut assembly 21is first removed, whereby the top section 25 can be'swung or'pivoted to-the position shown in Figure 3. The housing 22 thus serves to insure that 'the'various moving parts enclosed therein will not be contaminated or damaged by dirt, chips of metal or other foreign matter. The top of the section 25 is provided with a slit 30 whereby oil can be placed on the moving parts in the housing 22 so as to lubricate the parts. A movable element 28 is pivotally connected to the top section 25 by apin 29, and this element 28 normally closes the slit'36.

Projecting through the bushing 24 and into the housing 22 is a bearing shaft 3| which has a first gear 32 mounted on itsinner end, the gear 32 being'arranged in-thehousing 22. A ring member 33 is mounted on the lower end of the shaft 3|, and the member- 33 is maintained in its proper position on .the shaft 3| by a set screw 34. 1

Projecting from one side of the bottom section 23 and formed integrally therewith or secured thereto is a hollow collar or sleeve 35, Figure 2. A drive shaft 36 is rotatably supported in the collar 35 and the outer end of the drive shaft 36 is adapted to be arrangedinengagement with the spindle l4 so that actuation of the spindle I 4 causes rotationof the drive shaft 36. A ring member or bushing 3'! is arranged on the drive shaft 36 and abuts the-collar 35, there being a set screw 38 for'niaintaining the bushing 31 in engagement with the drive shaft 36." Mounted on the inner end ofth'e'drive shaft 36 is a gear 39 which has its teeth arranged in meshing engagement with the teeth of the gear 32. Thus, rotation of the drive shaft 36 causes rotation of the gear 32. r

Extending across the top of the gear 32 and connected thereto is a plate 40, the plate 40 being connected tothe gear 32 by suitable securing elements, such as bolts or screws 4|; Thus, as the'gear '32 'is rotated, the plate 40 is rotated therewith. The plate 40 is provided with a plurality of spaced 'interiorly threaded openings 42, Figurei. I

Arranged-exteriorly of the housing 22 is a hollow casing 43, and slidably .or reciprocably mounted in the casing 43 is a ram or rod 44. A boltand-nut assembly 45 adjustably connects the free ends of the casing 43 together, Figure 5, so that by tightening the bolt-and-nut assembly 45, the user can compensate for any wear that occurs on the insideof the casing 43 or on the exterior of the rod 44. For preventing rotation or turning ofthe rod, a guide strap 46 is seated in. a cutout or channel in the rod 44, and the guide strap 46 also engages ,or seats in a similar cut-out orchannel 48 in the casing-'43. A set :bi iadiu cd. ver i all as desired;

- 3 screw assemblyfls;projects through the' casing 43 and into engagement with the strap 46 for maintaining the strap 46, under proper tension.

One end of the rod 44 is provided with an interiorly threaded bore 50, and the-threaded end of a cutter bar 52 is arranged in threaded engagement with the bore 50. The cutte'r ba'r 52 is provided with a cutter or tool 53,0n its free ing :43 "being supported tlie?steatly rest I8.

Next, "the cutter bar 52* is connectedto the rod upon actuation of the spindle the cutter bar 52 end, Figure 6, so, that as the cutte'r'bar '52 "is closed to reciprocate back and forth, a keywayor key seat can be cut in the Work piece or article 2a.: The. w r piec 3 -v isihe 'd i Proper s a sembl serves di i blyl or detachably i iiie ire e. ver ca -p r n of the p a e 55 -crei rab irro dcd, w th; an. el n ated. lly .clis qsedslotthroush whic r jec s the b lt- ,and-nut assembly 54, whereby the, chuckZl can ,T e as ng 3 roi ct thro e t {st a rest -1 Q1 thelath H150 ast ri s r t t cutter Dat i ro rly al ed; with respect to t w r iece '20: The casi tiiisprei v rm as an integral part-of the bottom section 23 of the hqusinszz- 1 F connec n e; rod, totheplate 40 a link 54 is provided. Thus, ,a suitable securing element, such s;;a 'connectin pin or bolt 55, projects th uehcan apert re; or pening 5.6 i one ,end'pf the-li-nk;,54;and isqthen arranged in e agement. with 3on9, of @the threaded apertures 6.2;. A sui blei' ecu nel element; s ch as a p 51, serves to pivotally connect the other end of the 1 5354 to the-bifiurcated end of the rod. 44,

Figure 6; By properly -positioning the bolt 55 in engagement with the opening 42, the length of the stroke of the,link 54; can be adjusted as ,desired, An arms58; hasits inner end threaded exteriorly, as at 59.,and thethreaded end59 is A arranged engagementwith the bushing 24. The arm 58 projects'from the bushing-2,4- and engages the lathe bed, l,l so as to steady the keycutting, mechanism and :prevent rotation of the mechanism during the use "thereof,

Inuse, the parts are assembled sothat they occupy the-:positions shown in'Figure- 1. Then,

upon actuation of the; spindle 14. by means of ,the belt-,an'd-pulleymechanism l3, the drive shaft will berotated and ;this.in turn will result in rotation ofthe. gear;,32.,v since the gears 39 and 32, are arranged 5in= meshing engagement with each other. This rotation of the gear32; causes a corresponding rotation of the plate 40 which in ,turn causes the rod 44 .to reciprocate in the casingi43gsince theilink 54 pivotally connects- Also, the housing 22 encloses the meshing gears p and other moving; parts, whereby these parts will not be contaminated or damaged by foreign matter. To use the mechanism of the present invention on a lathe, it is-onh necessary'to remove the chuck 2| from, the lathea-nd then connect I it to the plate 55 sothat the workpiece 20 can be held at the desiredheight. Then, the steady rest I8 is ,mounted'on the lathe bed and the drive shaft 35 is connected to the spindle l4, the caswillform thev keyway or key seat in the work piece 20;

The mechanism of the present invention can slitin-said top-section, an.- element for normally closing, said slit, a bearing shaft projecting through saidbushing, aboltfan d nut assembly for "maintaining said top sectionclosed on said bottom section, a first gear arranged in said bottom section andconnected to said bearingshaft, a ring meinber mounted on-the lower endioff said shaft, a collar-projecting irom one side of said bottom section, a drive shaft rotatably supported in said collar and having-one endradapted-lto be arranged-in ,'engage1nent-.with a-spindle, a bus-hing arranged onsaid drive, shaft and abutting said collar, aisecond; gear mounted 'on' th-e inner 'end of said" drive shaft and arranged inmeshing engagement with said first gear, a hollow casing including a1pair: of sections detachablyconnected together, saidc'asing projectingafromi one side of said housing; a; rod'-recipmcablyarranged .in-said casing, axplate extending-{across the top of said first gear andxafdjustably mounted on said f rst gear, said plaiteheingprovided; with a plurality of spaced interiorlythreaded openings, alink pivotally connecting: saidiplate to,said- .rod,--acutter bar having one-endi0nnected tosaid rod, there being *a longitudinally exgtending; cut-out in said rod, said casing beinggprovidedwitha channel arranged ..inzregistry with said cut-out, guide strap seated in said icha-nnel'and cuteout, and -aset:screw: extending-through said casing and engaging said strap; one-end of said rod being 5 provided with an interiorly wthreaded (bore: for

. smeimesxemn The following references are of- -record in 'the file ofvthis patentz 1 l JUNITED;;STATES?PATETS.

um er" "Name Date... 45l3j847 -Dc .230, 1890 968,489' firing-$323,, 1.- 1910 1,202,636 Dots-J24; 1916 1,506,108 Aug526,i1924 '2,408,876 @0013; 8,1946 2,516,224 7 -Ju1y-,.25; 195o 2,532,591 'Armitage' t -al "Dec:.5,:-.195,0

. FOREIGN ATENTS, Number-- country.- Date 

